Despite now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Ibrahimovic took to Instagram to insist that he was not retiring and vowed to be back.

And his boss, who has known the star since their days together at Inter Milan, has no doubts that the mental toughness of the forward will strive him to make a full recovery.

Speaking of what the future held for Ibra prior to Thursday’s Manchester derby with City, Mourinho said: “The future is a big surgery, a long period of recovering but the future is also in the hands of a very strong guy – mentally very, very strong.

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